MINUTES-GB_18.03.05

MINUTES GOVERNING BOARDParis, 18th March 2005, 10.00 – 16.00

Participants:Hugues Albanel GPAEManuel Bustos APPAJean-Pierre Corbet SCPTHSteve Cryer BHAVincent Denis MHylabJacques Fonkenell VA TECHNino Frosio APERMarko Gospodjinacki EKOWATT Maria Laguna ESHAChristine Lins ESHADavid Miller Irish Hydropower AssociationMaurice Morello Syndicat EcowattBernhard Pelikan Kleinwasserkraft ÖsterreichPetras Punys Lithuanian Hydropower AssociationPeter Schubert Kleinwasserkraft ÖsterreichChrister Söderberg SEROGhislain Weisrock GPAETore S. Jorgensen International Centre for Hydropower (ICH)(guest)

ESHA Governing Board met in Paris on the 18th March 2005, Bernhard Pelikan opened the meeting and welcomed everybody to Paris (SCPTH offices). He specially welcomed Tore S. Jorgensen from the International Centre for Hydropower (ICH) in Norway - a guest in this Governing Board Session.

The following points of the agenda were discussed.

1. Presentation of International Centre for Hydropower (ICH) Norway Tore S. Jorgensen briefly described the activities of the International Centre for Hydropower, in terms of training courses, workshops, conferences with special focus with the cooperation in developing countries. He also described the situation of SHP in Norway, SHP definition (up to 10 MW), administrative procedures, legal framework, effects of the WFD) etc. of special interest for the Board were the favourable condition to develop small hydropower plants in Norway

ESHA – European Small Hydropower AssociationRenewable Energy House, Rue du Trône 26, B - 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

Tel: +32.2.546.19.45 Fax: +32.2.546.19.47, e-mail: [email protected], I: www.esha.be

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specially up to 3 MW where the administrative procedures, are simplified and taking only 1 year to get a licence.

2. WFD Bernhard Pelikan explained that ESHA working group on the WFD met the day before to discuss;

a) Meeting SCG from DG ENV (18.2.05)

Christine Lins reported on the Meeting of the Strategy Co-ordination Group for the WFD Common Implementation Strategy that took place in Brussels on the 18.2.2005, from 9.30 – 13.00. ESHA was represented in the meeting by Christine Lins and Maria Laguna.

ESHA has recently been accepted as observer to the SCG for the WFD Common Implementation Strategy coordinated by DG ENV. This group is composed of Member States representatives as well as stakeholders. Christine explained that the SCG meets regularly to give an overview of the work of the different sub-working groups and to discuss the work programme for 2005.

Christine explained that there are different sub- working group, so far none of them addressing specifically the issue of hydropower. However, in 2005 for the first time the WFD SCG is addressing sectorial activities that are affected with the implementation of such directive (agriculture, cohesion policy). Christine explained that a presentation was carried out by EURELECTRIC on Hydropower within this meeting. After a meeting that ESHA and Eurelectric had on 14.2.05, Eurelectric adopted the ESHA position on the need to ensure consistency of policies (RES-E Directive, WFD in particular). Christine explained the hard opposition against hydropower from WWF. They even refuse to talk with ESHA about the issue, unless ESHA signed Eugene Standards (too restrictive environmental standards from additional electricity production from RES sources, not even supported by Greenpeace). Christine explained that she raised the issue of creating a working group on Hydropower. The answer from DG ENV is that a working group on hydropower will be set up if the Water Directors (Member States representatives) of each Member State request it and that this working group could take place in second half of 2005 beginning 2006. Therefore, if sufficient interest from the Member States, the creation of a working group on hydropower might take place in the second half of 2005/beginning of 2006.

It was agreed that ESHA will write a draft letter to the Water Directors in Each Member State to request them to ask for a hydropower working group. ESHA will draft a letter in English and send it to the National Associations that will adapt them and translate them to their language. The letter will be sent jointly signed by ESHA and the National Associations to lobby at a National level in order to succeed in the creation of a working group on Hydropower. The creation of this working group is important since is there where ESHA can raise the issue of the necessity of more precise terms and definitions under the WFD.

ESHA – European Small Hydropower AssociationRenewable Energy House, Rue du Trône 26, B - 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

Tel: +32.2.546.19.45 Fax: +32.2.546.19.47, e-mail: [email protected], I: www.esha.be

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ESHA will identify who are the Water Directors in the respective countries, and will let the National Association know who they have to contact.

At the same time there will be a workshop on HMWB organised in the UK in September in which this issue should be dealt with where ESHA will try to get involved.

b) Report on activities of ESHA’s WFD working group

- ESHA working paper WFD

Bernhard Pelikan explained that the WFD working group is working on a paper on how to define certain criteria within the WFD. The objective of the paper is to set criteria for a more precise definition of terms of the WFD, specifically the definition of HBWB. Bernahrd Pelikan reminded the members of the Governing Board that ESHA working group on the WFD is open to any ESHA member if they want to participate

- WFD session in Lausanne workshop

It was agreed to use the environmental session on the SHP workshop organised by the Thematic Network on Small Hydropower in Lausanne on Friday 1st July (morning session) for a WFD workshop. The workshop will be organised as a panel where representatives of DG TREN and DG ENV will be invited as well as member States representatives to discuss the implementation of SHP and its relevance for the Small Hydropower Sector.

Manuel Bustos remarked the importance of following all the work of all the working groups on the SCG for the relevance of the WFD for the SHP sector. Manuel Bustos reminded that this task should be a strategic objective for 2005.

3. SHP input into FP7 Christine Lins explained that EREC and EUREC Agency have launched a document about RES priorities for FP7. This documents was launched on the 1st March in the Representation of Baden Württemberg in Brussels. Europe’s renewable energy industry and research community presented their common priorities for the 7th European Research and Technology Framework Programme (FP7). A comment position paper has been draft by EUREC, EREC and its members. ESHA position has been draft within the engineering group of the Thematic Network on Small Hydropower with MHylab taking the lead on this task.

Christine explained that more than 100 key policy-makers took part in the event, including Mr Matjaž Malgaj, speaking on behalf of Commissioner Potočnik (DG Science and Research). The President of EREC, Prof. Arthouros Zervos and Prof. Didier Mayer, President of EUREC Agency, expressed concern about the decline in public renewables R&D spending and urged Brussels’ decision-makers to increase the yearly EU renewable energy research budget to € 250 million in FP7 under a separate budget line.

ESHA – European Small Hydropower AssociationRenewable Energy House, Rue du Trône 26, B - 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

Tel: +32.2.546.19.45 Fax: +32.2.546.19.47, e-mail: [email protected], I: www.esha.be

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The members of the board got one copy of the publication; the publication can also be downloaded from ESHA’s web.

The Board discussed the real possibilities of getting an increase on the budget for RES, especially for SHP, when FP6 has totally forgotten it. Christine remarked the difficulty to really know how much money is invested in RES since the budget line call for Sustainable energy systems (clean coal, hydrogen, etc also included), that’s why the EUREC-EREC documents asks for a separate budget line only for RES.

Marko Gospodjinacki suggested to contact cabinet of Commissioner Potočnik (Slovenian Commissioner of Research) to lobby at that level. Vincent Denis expressed his concerns about small projects to participate in the FP7 calls, and he requested the necessity to lobby for instruments that allow small projects to get financed and not only big budget projects where R&D on small hydropower cannot participate. Christine Lins reminded the board about the request of the document asking for simplified procedures to participate in FP7, especially for SMEs.

4. HYDRO-EQUIP The efforts of Jean-Pierre Corbet to create the subgroup of SHP manufacturers within ESHA has not been very successful sofar. This is mainly due to the resistence coming from German manufacturers to create the group within ESHA as some of them do not want to separate small and large hydro. The creation of HEA (Hydro Equipment Association) under the umbrella of IHA (International Hydropower Association) is envisaged, which could have a European division which could then be connected to ESHA. However, the situation is not yet clear, the European group of HEA could have its first meeting at Hydro 2005 in Austria.

5. TNSHP

a) Publication State-of-the-art of SHP in EU 25Maria Laguna explained that within the Marketing group of the TNSHP a draft version of a publication on SHP State of the art in EU-25 has been drafted. She remarked is a non-technical publication to give and overview of the SHP sector in Europe, for the general public. She asked the members of the board to send her their comments about on this publication until 27th June 2005.

b) Lausanne workshopMaria Laguna explained that ESHA, MHylab and EPFL-LCH will arrange in Lausanne, 30th

June – 2nd July 2005 a Small Hydropower Workshop. The workshop is organised in the framework of the FP5 project “Thematic Network on SHP” (TNSHP) and an Altener project SPLASH - spatial planning and local agreement for and Small Hydro. Previous to the workshop on 29th there will be a TNSHP project meeting (9.00-14.00) a GB meeting (14.00-18.00) and a general Assembly meeting (18.00-20.00). A visit to Mhylab is planned for Saturday Morning. The members of the TNHSP are currently working on

ESHA – European Small Hydropower AssociationRenewable Energy House, Rue du Trône 26, B - 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

Tel: +32.2.546.19.45 Fax: +32.2.546.19.47, e-mail: [email protected], I: www.esha.be

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drafting a preliminary programme for the workshop, this programme and the registration form will be soon in ESHA website.

6. SYNERGY project with China

Christine explained that the new Chinese RES law has been approved. This law will enter into force in January 2006. This law regroups the comments given by EREC under the Synergy project. Christine Lins and Bernhard Pelikan will participate in a SHP workshop and training session under Synergy in China 19 –23 April in Hangzhou. The main interest of Synergy project for ESHA is to strengthen the relation with INSHP (the International Network on Small Hydropower in China) and to rise funding for ESHA functioning.

Some members of the Board expressed their concerns about the interest of the Chinese market for ESHA, however it was made clear that the main interest of the project is to assist the Chinese in the development of the RES law, thereby creating an interesting framework for renewables and particularly for SHP.

7. Hidroenergia 2006 – 7-9 June 2006

Steve Cryer explained that the dates for Hidroenergia 2006 and the venue have already been chosen. It will take place in Crieff, Scotland. Christine Lins will go in the short future to Crieff to meet with BHA and Network Events that are the professional organising the conference.

Manuel Bustos suggested having a special focus on Hidroenergia 2006 of the WFD and SHP.

8. Outlook on future projects/proposals

Europaid - SHYCAMaria Laguna explained that the SHYCA project has recently started. A kick-off meeting and a workshop will take Place in Tbilisi Georgia on 4 th-5th May. SHYCA project stands for Promotion of Small Hydro Power Retrofitting and Implementation in the Caucasus and Carpathian Region, is 100% finance and ESHA main role is the information dissemination of the project results.

FP6 – RESTMACChristine Lins updated the Board on RESTMAC project. The evaluation Committee is evaluating the FP6 proposals. At the end of the month it will be known if RESTMAC has been selected. Christine explained the sectorial and geographical approach of this technological marketing Campaign. She also explained that part of the budget of the project, if selected will go to Hidroenergia 2006.

ESHA – European Small Hydropower AssociationRenewable Energy House, Rue du Trône 26, B - 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

Tel: +32.2.546.19.45 Fax: +32.2.546.19.47, e-mail: [email protected], I: www.esha.be

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Asia InvestChristina explained that TERI was thinking about submitting a proposal with ESHA for this call, but that this proposal has been finally postpone.

IEEChristine explained the necessity of ESHA to submit a proposal for next call of the Intelligent Energy for Europe programme. Next call will be opened in September -October 2005 and the deadline will be the end of the year. Christine remarked the financial dependence of ESHA to European projects, she requested the members of the Board to think about a proposal to be able to submit a good one for the next call of this programme.

9. Update on Renewable Energy House move Christine explained all the process to get the new REH. In this REH ESHA will have 35 m2, room enough for two persons. The REH will be situated closer to the EP and will be a completely renewable energy house (solar panels, PV, pellets boiler, energy efficiency measures etc.). The costs of renting will be 200-euros/ m2, from 130 euros/m2 of the current REH. Christine explained that the move will take place in January 2006. And that because of the lack of space, from now on EWEA will be renting the meeting room in the current REH. Christine explained about the high potential for sponsoring in this new house.

She explained that EREC board approved this decision. Bernhard Pelikan requested the member of ESHA to support this decision in the EREC board. The decision was supported.

10. Accounts 2004

Christine reviewed the accounts for 2004. Manuel Bustos suggested that for the next time to add a row with the forecast, so that we can see if the forecast and the actual expenses are similar. He also remarked the weak situation of ESHA accounts for the excessive dependence on projects, and the little contribution of the membership fees.

11. Membership fees

Bernhard Pelikan explained that the Executive Committee met the day before of the GB meeting to discuss a fair system for the membership fees. He explained that the discussion was around three systems;

- A basic value + Xeuros*GWh- Basic Value + X euros* MW- % Income of the National Association

ESHA – European Small Hydropower AssociationRenewable Energy House, Rue du Trône 26, B - 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

Tel: +32.2.546.19.45 Fax: +32.2.546.19.47, e-mail: [email protected], I: www.esha.be

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Bernhard explained that what is needed is to significantly increase the contribution from the membership fees.

Manuel Bustos remarked that the re-definition of the model on membership fees should be combined with a reflection on the strategic needs.

Bernhard Pelican remarked that it is needed to have a membership model for the next GB meeting in Lausanne. He remarked that in order to enlarge the Association with new members it is necessary to have a precise membership model. Bernhard Pelikan also underlined the necessity of having new members, especially in Germany. Christine Lins add that maybe it is needed to address the federal associations. And in the case of France address EAF.

Miscellaneous

Christine Lins gave Petras Punys and Marko Gospodjinacki the letters that ESHA got as an answer to their request to action for small hydro in their respective countries. Ministry of Environment in Lithuania remarks that small hydro is not a priority for their country, Ministry of Slovenia answers that they are aware of the situation expressed in ESHA’s letter in their country.

Nino Frosio gave Christine Lins a PowerPoint presentation of SHP in Italy. So far ESHA has collected the presentations for Greece and Italy. Christine Lins reminded the Members of the Board to send ESHA PowerPoint presentations of the situation in their respective countries, so that ESHA has a profile of each country that represents.

Bernhard Pelikan reminded the Board to send abstracts to Hydro 2005 conference in October in Villach, Austria despite the deadline has already passed. ESHA has an agreement with Alison Bartle to have a Small Hydropower session in this conference

The discussion ended up with the Revision of the RES directive. Christine explained the Members of the Board that the European Commission is not calling for harmonization of support systems at the moment which is in line with the EREC position paper on this topic.

The next governing board Meeting will take place in Lausanne 29 June 2005 from 14.00-18.00.

ESHA – European Small Hydropower AssociationRenewable Energy House, Rue du Trône 26, B - 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

Tel: +32.2.546.19.45 Fax: +32.2.546.19.47, e-mail: [email protected], I: www.esha.be

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